Sore nipples

A tender painful nipple is termed as a sore nipple.

A sore nipple may look completely normal. At times, it is red, cracked and may bleed.

What causes sore nipples?

• Incorrect attachment: Suckling at the nipple

A baby suckling at the nipple does not have enough of the areola in his mouth and does not get enough of milk. So he suckles more vigorously and for longer lengths of time, damaging the nipple skin.

• Frequent use of soap and water

This washes the natural oils secreted by the glands around the nipple on the areola which normally keep the nipples soft.

• Candidial (fungal) infection of the nipple

•  Pulling off the baby from the breast while he is still suckling.

How to treat sore nipples

• Do not stop breastfeeding to rest the breast. Instead, attach the baby well to the areola of the breast while feeding. Then the mother feels no pain despite the sore nipple.
• Change the position of breastfeeding. In a new position, it is less painful.
•  Begin each breastfeed on the less affected breast.
•  Apply expressed hind milk to the nipple after breastfeed.The high fat content acts as a lubricant and the antibodies help in healing.
•  Do not use creams available in the market for treating sore nipples.
•  Expose the nipple to air between feeds to aid in healing.
•  Avoid using a brassiere and wear loose clothing in the home to allow for air circulation.
•  If the baby has oral thrush, or the mother has thrush affecting her nipples, treat the baby and mother with antifungal gentian violet or clotriamozole mouth paint.
• Attach the baby well to the breast - where both the nipple and enough of the areola are in the baby’s mouth.
• Do not wash the breasts before each breastfeed.

How to prevent sore nipples

Wait until the baby releases the nipple on his own after feeding at the breast. If the mother must take the baby off the breast while he is suckling, she should put her finger gently into the baby’s mouth to break the suction and then release the nipple.

Treat candidiasis and thrush in the mother and baby respectively.

Sore nipples in the first few days after delivery, are often due to incorrect positioning of the baby at the breast. Delayed onset of sore nipples, that is, after 2 or 3 weeks, is often due to thrush.

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How can I help my child make new friends?

Some parents become overly concerned when their school aged child is more interested in spending time alone than he is in spending time with his peers.  Know that this is not uncommon, and that many children simply prefer alone time to social groups until they get close to the teen years.
However, if you suspect that the reason your child is having problems making friends is because of a personality issue then you should start addressing it as soon as possible. Figure out what the problem is, whether it is because your child is bossy, hyper, cannot follow the rules or if the problem is poor self control.  One you determine if there is a problem, you will be close to a solution.

Most of the times, if your child is not making friends, there might be an underlying complex in him which he himself maynot be aware of.So you have to talk it out with him, not all at once, but over some time.There are a few kids though who simply like to be alone.That is there in their temperament.It is best to leave such children alone.

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